New Head of European Space Agency UK centre ECSAT

Magali Vaissiere

16 July 2013

The European Space Agency’s UK facility has a new Head of Centre: Magali Vaissiere, ESA Director of Telecommunications and Integrated Applications. Oxfordshire-based ECSAT, the European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications, was officially unveiled on 14 May, 2013, and is active in telecommunications, climate change, technology, science and integrated applications. Integrated applications use space and terrestrial knowledge, technologies and infrastructures to spawn new, everyday benefits.

Ms. Vaissiere, of French nationality, has been the Director of ESA Telecommunications and Integrated Applications since 2008, and has a wealth of experience in leading directorates and extensive knowledge of commercial business, as her roots lie in industry. Having worked in commercial telecommunications for many years, she understands both the competitive market and public need for innovation.

J. J. Dordain, ESA Director General, said: “This appointment enhances ESA’s presence in the UK. Investing in space is investing in competitiveness and growth, through knowledge, innovation and services. The Harwell Oxford campus is already a unique place of competences. The building up of ESA’s presence in this campus reinforces both ESA and the UK.”

Public–private partnerships are particularly emphasised at ECSAT, as it is located in the Harwell Oxford science and innovation campus. Magali Vaissiere will help develop both its activities and relationships within the UK and on campus, where the establishment rubs shoulders with some of the most influential commercial and institutional space and technology organisations in the country.

She has been involved with the UK space sector for many years, as its strong ties to telecommunications have led her to develop many local contacts and in-depth knowledge about the nature of the sector in the UK.

She developed this knowledge for good reason, as the UK space industry has recently been identified as a growth sector. With 70% of its output being exported it is a major player on the global stage. ECSAT is ESA’s youngest establishment, and designed to play a key role in the UK space domain.

David Willetts, UK Minister of Universities and Science said: “This appointment is an important step in establishing ESA’s presence in the UK, which in itself demonstrates the success of our growing space industry. Magali’s skills and experience will be instrumental in making the ESCAT facility a success, and I wish her the very best for her new role.”

David Parker, UK Space Agency Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted that Magali will be setting up shop in ECSAT. At the last Ministerial, the UK doubled its investment in the ARTES programme that she so excellently manages, so this is a new chapter in a story that has been going on for many years.

“We help connect the ESA’s brilliant technologists with the end-users. The UK is at the heart of ESA, and ESA is at the heart of the UK.”

ECSAT complements ESA’s current world-class capabilities located at ESTEC, the European Space Research and Technology Centre (the Netherlands), ESOC, the European Space Operations Centre (Germany), ESRIN, the European Space Research Institute (Italy), ESAC, the European Space Astronomy Centre (Spain), EAC, the European Astronaut Centre (Germany) and the Redu Centre (Belgium), which, together with Headquarters (France), constitute the main infrastructure of ESA.

ECSAT complements ESA’s current world-class capabilities located at ESTEC, the European Space Research and Technology Centre (the Netherlands), ESOC, the European Space Operations Centre (Germany), ESRIN, the European Space Research Institute (Italy), ESAC, the European Space Astronomy Centre (Spain), EAC, the European Astronaut Centre (Germany) and the Redu Centre (Belgium), which, together with Headquarters (France), constitute the main infrastructure of ESA.